Frank a



(No Model.)

F. A. FOX.

GHANGEABLE BUTTON. No. 316,253. Patented Apr. 21, 1885.

WITNESSES: my m3: QWZJZU, S r 04am BY Z? ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. PlvnluLithographur. Washingivn. II. C.

Nrre STATES FRANK A. FOX, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y. ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF ANDJAMES L.

GORDON, OF SAME PLACE.

CHANGEABLE BUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,253, dated April21, 1885.

Application filed October 20,1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK A. Fox, of the city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented a new and Improved Oombination Button, of which thefollowing is a full, clear,

and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improvedcombination-button,which can easily be converted from a uniform-buttoninto a button for civilians clothes, and

vice versa.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corr5responding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a cross-sectional elevation of my improvedcombination-button. Fig. 2 is a face view of the button, the shell beingdetached. Fig. 3 is a face View of the shell.

The button A,which may be made of metal, metal and cloth, bone,composition, or any other suitable material, in any well-known manner,is sewed, riveted, or otherwise secured to the garment or article B. Onthe edge of the said button a screw-thread, O, is formed, on which theshell D of a military button is screwed, the said shell having ascrew-thread formed on its lower part. An exterior rib or collar, E, isformed on the shell 0 D, directly above the screwthread,which collar,however, may be dispensed with.

The shell is embossed, engraved, or otherwise ornamented in the mannerthat uniformbuttons are usually ornamented. For example, the names orinitials of railway and steamboat companies, vessels, firms,corporations, regiments, &c., or other symbols or signs are produced onthe shell.

\rVhen the person having my improved buttons on his suit is on duty,the-shells D are se- 0 cured on the button, and when the person goes offduty the shells are removed, thereby converting the uniform into acivilians suit. Before going on duty the shells are again secured on thebuttons, and the suit thus con- 5 verted into a uniform.

Cleaning the uniform-buttons is greatly facilitated, as the' shell canbe removed and scoured, cleaned,and polished without soiling theuniform.

I am aware that,broadl y considered, changeable buttons are notnew--that is to say, buttons the appearance of which may be changed;also that in various articles of jewelrysuch as rings, ear-rings,&c.covers or shells have been used for concealing diamonds or otherprecious stones. Such, therefore, I do not broadly claim.

WVhat I do claim is In a changeable button substantially as described, adisk having a threaded edge, combined with a removable covering-shellinte riorly threaded, and adapted to entirely conceal the face of thedisk, substantially as set forth.

FRANK A. FOX.

Witnesses:

OSCAR F. GUNZ, O. SEDGWIOK.

